Thursday, January 17, 2013

[BOOK REVIEW] Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems



Title:  Knuffle Bunny Free

Author: Mo Willems


Genre: Toys / Traveling / Growing Up


Year Published: 2010


Year Read: 2011


Series: Knuffle Bunny #3

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 4+ (Nothing Objectionable)
 


After reading both “Knuffle Bunny” and “Knuffle Bunny Too,” I was definitely looking to reading the most recent book out of Mo Willems’ popular “Knuffle Bunny” series, “Knuffle Bunny Free” and trust me, this is truly the most heartwarming book out of the entire “Knuffle Bunny” series that will have children treasuring it for many years!

Oh my goodness! As long as I have been reading Mo Willems’ “Knuffle Bunny” series, they have been filled with good humor that made children love this series so much!  Now, I have read finally read the conclusion to the great “Knuffle Bunny” series and it is here that you realize the full emotional impact that this book packs as we realize that this is the final book for the entire series and I will definitely miss seeing more of the “Knuffle Bunny” series.  I loved the way that Mo Willems centered this story around Trixie’s relationship with her Knuffle Bunny and how she has to come to the ultimate decision about growing up or not with or without her Knuffle Bunny and it was that aspect of the story that truly stood out for me since we were never shown how Trixie would mature with or without her Knuffle Bunny.  I also loved seeing Trixie’s grandparents and it was interesting to note that her grandparents are from Holland, which Mo Willems gladly provided some sightseeing and information about Holland!  I really loved the various Dutch words that describe Trixie’s grandparents such as “Oma” means “grandma” in Dutch and “Opa” means “grandpa” in Dutch and that would really help out with me trying to learn Dutch. Mo Willems’ illustrations are as usual, creative as the backgrounds of each image are full of photos taken of Holland, which was really interesting seeing the scenery of Holland from a closer inspection and I loved the experience of sightseeing Holland at my own home.  Also, the way that Mo Willems drew his drawings of the characters on the photos as it made the images feel more lifelike and I also loved the images of Trixie and her parents as they seem to age a bit by the third book (especially Trixie’s father who has a beard now) and that really brought out the true essence of showing characters maturing in children’s books!

Overall, “Knuffle Bunny Free” is a truly memorable conclusion to the fantastic “Knuffle Bunny” series that many fans will definitely look forward to reading!! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.




2 comments:

  1. I didn't know there was a third Knuffle Bunny book! Will have to look for this one at the library. I have a friend who is Dutch so I'm familiar with a few words- Oma and Opa being some. "Om" is uncle!

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    1. Yeah! I was surprised there was a third book of the Knuffle Bunny Books! I loved that series!!

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